John Mukum Mbaku Esq. - Böcker

The end of the Cold War, the cessation of superpower rivalry, and the demise of apartheid in South Africa have offered Africans another opportunity to engage in effective institutional reform and state reconstruction. This book emphasizes the importance of institutions to economic growth and development and, using public choice theory, provides guidelines that can be used to initiate and implement an effective people-driven institutional reform program on the continent.

Africa is currently experiencing sociopolitical and economic changes of unprecedented proportions. New leaders, institutions, discourses, and methods of political organization and action are shaping a new future.Through a case-study approach, this essay collection provides a comprehensive analysis of the history, trajectory, actors, institutions, contradictions, failures, and opportunities in contemporary efforts at democratization in Africa. While presenting the dynamics of democracy and democratization in several African countries, they also look at critical issues in Africa's transition projects from political parties and elections through constitutions and constitutionalism to new structures of power and politics. A provocative analysis for scholars, students, researchers, and policy makers involved with African political and economic development.

Mbaku, Saxena, and their contributors examine the problems faced by Africa as it decides what to do to improve its ability to contribute to and benefit from the new globalization. Today, the continent stands at a crossroads; it must choose between joining the new global society and pursuing a process of internal self-reliance. The dilemma the continent faces is how to participate in and benefit from the new global economy as well as retain and also benefit from its emerging regional economic and political schemes.The book is written by a group of highly skilled and committed Africanists and is intended to make a significant contribution to the debate on poverty alleviation in Africa as well as on improving Africa's ability to participate in and benefit from the new globalization and how to achieve the type of peaceful coexistence in Africa that will enhance economic growth and development. It contains a refreshing, vigorous, and informative analysis of poverty alleviation strategies in the continent, how to achieve lasting peace and enhance the peaceful co-existence of population groups, and how to improve the continent's ability to participate more effectively in the new globalization. It emphasizes the importance of good policies and laws and institutions not only to peaceful coexistence, but also to sustainable poverty alleviation strategies. As Africans prepare themselves and their societies for the new globalization, it is critical that they provide themselves with governance structures that are locally-focused, and that enhance peace and sustainable development.